Sunday, 30 November 2014

Hera was the Queen of the gods, and goddess of the sky, women and marriage. Hera was angry at Hercules,( Zeus's son) and she asked Hypnos (god of sleep) to make Zeus sleep while she tormented the hero. When Zeus awoke, he was furious. He searched for Hypnos and finally found him hiding in the arms of his mother, Nyx. Zeus overcame his anger and simply warned Hypnos not to try such a trick again, and Hypnos went unpunished.

Hypnos with his mother Nyx

During the Trojan War, Hera wanted to distract Zeus from the battle so she could assist the Akhaians, who seemed to be losing the war. She wanted Hypnos to cast a spell of sleep on Zeus, but he refused. At first Hera offered Hypnos a golden throne crafted by Hephaestus, but she was forced to raise the price when Hypnos reminded her of the only time he had dared cast sleep on Zeus. In preparation for this new deception, Hypnos made Hera swear oaths of her sincerity. He agreed to help her deceive Zeus for the hand of Pasithea, one of the Graces. He turned himself into a bird and, before Zeus could see him, hid in the top of the trees on Mount Ida. He stayed hidden until Hera had seduced Zeus.

Hypnos sending Zeus into sleep

When the Zeus was dulled by pleasure and sleep, Hypnos flew to Poseidon and urged him to increase his efforts in helping the Akhaians because Zeus was asleep and unaware of his meddling. Poseidon strode through the ranks of soldiers and urged them on. Finally, his bellowing and screeching roused Zeus from his slumber but, in that short time, the Akhaians had turned the battle back on the Trojans. Hera’s trick had worked. Zeus never found out that Hypnos had betrayed him.INDEX

Friday, 14 November 2014

In Greek mythology, Keres were the female spirits of violent or cruel death, including death in battle, by accident, murder or ravaging disease. The Keres were daughters of Erebus, the god of drakness, and Nyx, the goddess of night. In some version Keres were described as daughters of Nyx with no father. The Keres were described as formidable, dark, and hateful, because they carry off men to the joyless house of Hades.

Keres

The Keres were agents of The Moirae (Fates), birth-spirits who measured out the length of a man's life when he first entered the world, and Moros (Doom) the spirit who drove a man towards his inevitable destruction. They were described as dark beings with gnashing teeth and claws and with a thirst for human blood. They would hover over the battlefield and search for dying and wounded men.

Keres

Thousands of Keres haunted the battlefield, fighting among themselves like vultures over the dying. The Keres had no absolute power over the life of men, but in their hunger for blood would seek accomplish death beyond the bounds of fate. Zeus and the other gods, however, could stop them in their course or speed them on. The Olympian gods are often described standing by their favorites in battle, beating the clawing death spirits from them. Some of the Keres were personifications of epidemic diseases, which haunted areas riven by plague.

In some versions, Hecate goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, and ghost, was described as the mistress of the Keres. Hecate task was to keep the Keres in order and direct them in the brewing of magic potions. In some versions, Keres were described as the evil spirits released from Pandora's jar to plague mankind. In some versions, the Keres were described together with the Erinyes, as the goddesses who avenge the crimes of men.INDEX

1Thalia:-In Greek mythology, Thaleia or Thalia was the daughter of Hephaestus and was a nymph of Mount Aitna in Sikelia (or Sicily), southern Italy.

Thalia

She had love affair with Zeus, but, fearing the wrath of Hera, asked to be hidden beneath the earth.There she gave birth to the Palikoi. ( Palikoi were Sicilian daemons, twin sons of Zeus).

2Thalia:- In Greek mythology, Thalia was the goddess of
festivity and rich, luxurious banquets.

Grace

She was one of the three Graces who
usually appears with her sisters dancing in a circle.

3Thalia:- In Greek mythology, Thalia was one of the nine (Muses), the goddess of music, song and dance. Thaleia was
named Muse of comedy and bucolic poetry.

Thalia

In this guise she was
portrayed with the attributes of comic mask, shepherd's staff and wreath
of ivy. She was the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the eighth-born of the nine Muses.4 Thalia:- In Greek mythology Thalia is one of the fifty Nereids, daughters of Nereus and Doris.

Thalia, one of the Nereids

She is mentioned as one of the 32 Nereids who gather on the coast of Troy from the depths of the sea to mourn with Thetis for the future death of her son Achilles.INDEX

Thursday, 13 November 2014

1.Sterope:- In Greek mythology, Sterope was described as the daughter of Atlasand Pleione, one of the Pleiades and a companion of Artemis.

Sterope

According to some version. Sterope was described as wife or lover of Ares, and mother of Oenomaus. In some versions Sterope was described as the wife of Oenomaus.2.Sterope:- In Greek mythology, Sterope was described as the daughter of Cepheus, King of Tegea.

Sterope, princess of Tegea

Sterope was given by Hercules a lock of Medusa's hair to protect her hometown, Tegea from attack, in the absence of men.3.Sterope:- In Greek mythology, Steropes was described as one of the Cyclopes, son of Gaeaand Uranus.4.Sterope:- daughter of Pleuron and Xanthippe.5.Sterope:- daughter ofHelios(the sun god) and wife of Eurypylus.6.Sterope:- one of the horses of HeliosIndex

Sunday, 9 November 2014

Merope1 In Greek mythology, Merope was one of the sevenPleiades, daughters of Atlasand Pleione. Merope married the impious (not religious) king Sisyphus and was ancestress of the Corinthian and Lycian royal families.

Merope

Merope sisters had relations with gods and bore them sons, but Merope married Sisyphus and lived on the island Chios. Merope gave birth to Glaukos, Ornytion, Almus, Thersander and Sinon. According to some versions, Merope was so ashamed of her husband's crimes that she hid her face amongst the stars of heaven, and so the seventh star of the Pleiades faded away from human sight. According to other versions, Merope became invisible from shame, because she alone among her sisters had sexual intercourse with a moral man.Merope2 In Greek mythology, Merope was described as the daughter of Oenopion, king of Chios, (son of Dionysus and Ariadne) and nymph Helike. When hunter Orion came to Chios, he love in love with beautiful princess, Merope. Orion served King Oinopion as huntsman and wished to marry Merope, but Oenopion, disliking the idea, made Orion drunk, put out his eyes as he slept, and then cast him on the beach.

Merope..

According to other version, Orion got drunk went into the chamber of the Merope2, and had sex with her. Oenopion with assistance of Dionysus, who caused Orion to be thrown into a deep sleep by satyrs, in which Oenopion blinded him. In rare version, Merope was described as the wife of Oenopion. Index

In Greek mythology, Taygete was described as the daughter of Atlas and Pleione, one of the Pleiadesand a companion of Artemis. Mt Taygetos in Laconia derived its name from her.

Taygete

Zeus was attracted towards her beauty and take advantage when Taygete was unconscious. Taygetewas so ashamed when she recovered that she hid herself under Mount Taygetos, in Laconia. In due course she gave birth to Lacedaemon, founder of Sparta. According to other versions, in order to secure Taygete against Zeus lustful advance, Artemis transformed her into a doe. When she was restored to her original form, she showed her gratitude towards Artemis by dedicating to her the Cerynitian hind with golden horns. (The golden horns that Hercules had to fetch in his 3rd labor.) In some versions, It was described that by Tantalus she became the mother of Pelops. Index

Saturday, 8 November 2014

In Greek mythology, Maia was described as the daughter of Atlas and Pleione, and was the eldest of the seven Pleiades. Maia was also described as a shy goddess who dwell alone in a cave near the peaks of Mt Cyllene.

Maia and Zeus

Zeus was attracted towards her beauty and in the night he secretly took her into his bed. Maia secretly gave to a son by Zeus, Hermes, in a cave of Cyllene. After giving birth to the baby, Maia wrapped him in blanket and went to sleep. The infant Hermes crawled away, stole some of Apollo's cattle and invented the lyre from a tortoise shell.

Maia, infant Hermes, and Apollo

Maia refused to believe Apollo when he claimed Hermes was the thief and Zeus then sided with Apollo. Finally Apollo exchanged the cattle for the lyre which became one of Apollo identifying attributes. Maia also raised the boy Arcas in her cave whose mother Callisto had been transformed into a bear. Index